Sound quality is fantastic, the quality of play not so much. Too many crusty passages, including some flubbed lyrics and many discordant/out-of-synch instrumentals. But I always loved HJK, could walk there from a friend’s house on the other side of Lake Merritt. This night just didn’t have “it”. 5 for sound quality, 2 for performance, round down to 3.

i was fortunate enough to download most shows before all was taken away, not to worry, email me with your list.

I just started going through the shows for 1989 and this one sounds great - also the other nights at the Kaiser Center.

Sorry to hear that you had an off night, my friend.

A decent show with great sound quality thanks to Charlie.

this is a solid fun show through out. Worth a listen. Please ignore 2 star reviews by wordy people who don't know anything about music.

right away it sounds good to these ears. good vocal harmonies, subtle inflections by jerry on sugaree. nothing pleasing? clean out your ears, shut up and listen. sound wise every body is present inc. the often seriously reduced bobby and Phil is thumpin! 4 stars so far...and not to be a hater but I think Ive disagreed with every J Boy review, I wish...Oh nevermind all that.

1st Set: Dig that orchestral presentation by Brent (:21) during the 186 seconds of "Tuning. Surprisingly, Jerry is the one who states, "We're experiencing the first of tonight's technical difficulties." So for all those losing patience, have a little silly-willy with the "Beer Barrel Polka." Hey, hey, two slams of the drums and it's "NFA?!" It's novel enough to make one smile, but it's only typical of any version. Right before they normally would have cried out, "My Love is bigger than a Cadillac," they head into comfortable territory with "Sugaree." It's rather loud and hits particular notes I don't find all that attractive...anyways, "Wang"'s a fave of mine because it's sexy smooth and cool save for the purposefully big finish that tries too hard to be. Jerry's voice is a bit weak/meek tonight, yea...he's struggling vocally, forgets half of the third verse of "Jack." Musically, it's good. "Queen" is growing into its own... it elevates the mood into a wistful plead. "Brown" doesn;t sound all that great, but I'm in a melancholy mood...one with the journey. Brent's erratically clamping (1:26 sounds drunk) This is not one of "Cassidy"'s stronger moments. Hopefully it won't be two 'Ease's in two nights. Ehhh, the mediocrity continues with "Tennessee." It comes together so tepid and fragile. Oh, you've got to be kiddin me, that's it.

2nd Set: "Hell" doesn't quite storm or stomp or break down any new barriers but it's a serviceable enough rendition to open up a second set. "Scarlet" feels clumsy as everyone's laying down notes, and they're just not falling into an ideal place. Plus, the pace is sluggish. Deconstruction was intended to work as evidenced by the wonderful stringed instrument play...they break up into two's..(late 8's/early nine's) but Bobby was with Phil and Jerry intially. Things accelerate and get less interesting as Jerry provides one of those fresh breath of 5 seconds before the stop and the move into heady territory, "LLR." It's rather nasty, not in a furious way til about the fourth minute. Then it turns oddly starry but also off-putting and dirty. Hopefully utopia has arrived as the turtle circles around the palm but it's too tamely tepid to stir the fire. "Drums/Space" acceptably pass the time leading to "TOO" that works best when attempting anthemic rather than weirdness. Why is it that the most subpar of shows features the most convincing "Stella's" What that means is that the aching tone of solitary shines through any errors, sloppiness, etc. Not an all-time classic, but I felt the goosebumps. "Lovelite" attains for silky smooth goodness. It reaches the marker for sufficient frenzy-ness.

Deserving of "Black Muddy"'s sucking quicksand effect.

2 1/2 stars rounded down

"Sugaree" comes after NFA and just before "Wang Dang Doodle."

Decent show. The night before was a bit better.

I figured that it deserves at least one review! Check out the jazzy jam Phil and Brent provide into drums out of a pretty well bent Terrapin Station. The sound is even better than the night before which is also good. Thanks to Charlie Miller, etc. Check the notes...Play it LOUD!
Hmmm...I hope the show comes back as I see it is unavailable for the time being. Well, when in doubt...Twirl.